Development of a School Climate Walkthrough Assessment

School climate measurement is an increasingly important component of data-driven school improvement efforts. The present study involved the development of the School Climate Walkthrough Assessment (SCWA), a measure for evaluating environmental indicators and oral student reports of school climate alongside the Georgia Elementary School Climate Survey (GESCS), a validated self-report survey of school climate. The SCWA is administered by an adult who rates features of the school environment and then selects a subset of students for a school climate interview. It is meant to provide a snapshot of the general school climate in conjunction with school climate data obtained via self-report and archival measures, as well as additional school data points. Results of the present study provide preliminary support for a walkthrough tool that can be used alongside student self-report and outcome data for school climate monitoring. Findings particularly highlight the intersection of environmental variables and student perceptions in a cultural-ecological conception of school climate. Implications for practice, policy, and future directions of research are discussed